Campus Faculty, Staff Receive $11 Million in Grants and Contracts

Oct. 5, 2016

Cal State Fullerton faculty and staff members have garnered more than $11 million in grants and contracts for the first quarter of the academic year (July 1 to Sept. 30). Among the awards were multimillion dollar awards in support of teacher education endeavors and the University’s GEAR UP program.

Claire Cavallaro, professor of special education and dean emeritus of the College of Education:

$50,000 from the James Irvine Foundation through the California State University, Long Beach Research Foundation for “Advancing Educator Preparation and Communities of Practice for Linked Learning.”

Adriana Badillo, project director for GEAR UP: $1,116,440 in second-year funding from the U.S. Department of Education for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program, or GEAR UP-Anaheim program, which follows students from Sycamore and South junior high schools from 7th grade through high school. Badillo also was awarded $969,860 in the last year of a six-year U.S. Department of Education grant in support of the CSUF GEAR UP program, which works with students from Dale and Orangeview junior high schools. Related story: Local High School Students GEAR UP for College

Joshua Bilbrew, director of Educational Talent Search: a total of $524,160 in first-year funding from the U.S. Department of Education for CSUF’s Talent Search Programs. Both grants are expected to total $2.62 million over the five-year award period.

Dawn Macy, director of the Center for Internships and Community Engagement: $498,893 Buena Park School District contract for the continuation of the “Titan After-School Education and Safety Program.” She also received $13,827 from Project Access for “Project Access Titan Tutors 2016-18.”

Patricia Feliz, director of the CSUF High School Equivalency Program: $474,991 in second-year funding from the U.S. Department of Education for the CSUF HEP program. Related story: Grant to Assist Migrant Students

Amybeth Cohen, professor of biological science: $435,516 from the National Institutes of Health to support “MARC U*Star Program.” The nationally funded program, entering its 21st year, supports underrepresented students interested in pursuing advanced degrees in biomedical or behavioral research. More than 79 undergraduates have participated, with 85 percent entering doctoral programs within the last 10 years. Related: Successful Program Helps Students on Path to Research Careers

Alexandra Orchard and Nicholas Salzameda, assistant professors of chemistry and biochemistry: $310,569 U.S. Department of Defense award for “Peptidomimetics as Chemical Probes of Protein-Protein Interactions.”

Michael Daniel, director of the CSUF Small Business Development Center: $289,750 from the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economics Development for the “2016-17 Go-Biz SBDC State Match project.” Related: Supporting Entrepreneurs

Sara Johnson, professor of anthropology: $250,000 award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for “U-ACRE 3.0 Partnership Across HSIs to Enhance the Student Research Experience.” Related: Supporting Sustainable Urban Agriculture

Natalie Tran, professor of educational leadership: $178,000 U.S. Department of Education award for the “National Resource Center for Asian Languages” project. The funding is part of a four-year grant to establish a resource center to enhance the teaching, learning and research of less commonly taught languages in the U.S.

Ruth Mielke, associate professor of nursing: $61,867 Song-Brown grant from the state of California, Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development for “Building Capacity for Nurse-Midwife and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Students.”

James Parham, assistant professor of geological sciences: $37,000 California Department of Fish and Wildlife award for “Conservation Assessment of Four Newly Discovered Endemic Species of California Legless Lizard.” Related: New Species of Legless Lizards Unearthed

Sheryl Fontaine, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences: $36,188 from the UC Office of the President for project “First State.”

Scott Parr, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering: $28,735 from the board of supervisors of Louisiana State University and A&M College for “Enhancing Guidance for Evacuation Time Estimate Studies” project.

Christina Goode, professor of chemistry and biochemistry: $25,000 California State University Chancellor’s Office award and $15,000 from the National Science Foundation for the continuation of “CSU-LSAMP,” a program to increase disadvantaged students’ preparedness, persistence and retention in STEM programs. Related: Encouraging Students to Consider STEM Studies

William Laton, associate professor of geological sciences: $16,239 from the California High Speed Rail Authority for “Groundwater Study Project.” Laton received $72,500 earlier in the year for this project.